Southeast Youths Warn Governors Ahead of 2023 Presidential Election
Governors of various states of the southeast have been warned against jeopardising the chances of the region to clinch the 2023 presidential seat.
This warning was issued by the youths from the region under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders.
The coalition stated that the governors and the political stakeholders should step up action to defend the collective interest of the entire Igbo race.
Igbo youths under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), have asked the Acting President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Kingsley Dozie, as well as South East governors to see the February 25, 2023, presidential election as a very serious business for the Igbo nation.
In a statement signed by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, and made available to journalists, the group insisted that the Southeast cannot afford to lose the presidential position to another zone this time around.
The group regretted the demise of the Ohaneze Ndigbo President General, George Obiozor.
Ibem also asked Kingsley Dozie and the leadership of Ohaneze, Southeast Governors and other political stakeholders to step up to defend the collective interest of the entire Igbo race, as the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections draw near.
Ibem’s Said:
“So many ethnic groups and tribes are working endlessly to pursue and defend the interest of their people, and Ndigbo should buckle up to protect and defend their own political interest as a people. Dozie and Ohanaeze executives should defend the collective interest of over 50 million Igbo living in the country.
“Since 1999, and even beyond, the southeast is the only zone that has not produced a president of this country.
“The Southwest, who are the Yoruba, have taken their turn under Olusegun Obasanjo. The North have taken theirs under Mohammadu Buhari, and South-South has taken theirs under Goodluck Jonathan. Igbo is the only major ethnic group that is left behind.”
He added that since 1999, the Southwest has produced a president and vice for 16 years and that the South-south region has equally produced a president for six years and a vice president for two years within the same period.
“The southeast remains the only zone in southern Nigeria yet to produce a president for this country since 1999, and, of course, since the end of the civil war in 1970.
“Atiku Abubakar from northern Nigeria, whose brother, Muhammadu Buhari, will complete his eight-year tenure in May 2023, is still running for president to succeed Buhari.
“Nigerians need to be reminded that Southeast and the Igbo nation is equally a stakeholder and shareholder in Nigeria, and should not be relegated to the background.”
